Short Summary

Zambia celebrated its annual youth day on Monday (9 August) with a rally and parade through the streets of Lusaka, the nation's capital.

Description

Zambia celebrated its annual youth day on Monday (9 August) with a rally and parade through the streets of Lusaka, the nation's capital. The occasion was used as a platform by government and youth leaders to condemn white rule in Rhodesia, South West Africa (Namibia) and South Africa.

SYNOPSIS: The march past the Freedom Statue in Lusaka's Independence Avenue followed a week of activities involving young Zambians. President Kenneth Kaunda strongly condemned South Africa and Rhodesia during a speech to mark the occasion. He said that war would continue until the last vestiges of foreign rule had disappeared from African soil.

The young Zambians were urged to give moral and material support to liberation movements in the white-ruled countries of southern Africa. President Kaunda said Zambia's independence could not be complete without the independence of Rhodesia and South West Africa, and the end of apartheid in South Africa.

Zambia is one of the four "front-line" states to which the organisation of African Unity has given special responsibility to assist guerrilla activities in Rhodesia. President kaunda has said he will allow a new front to be opened from Zambia against Mr. Ian Smith's minority white government. This was the first time that youth activities have been spread over a week in Zambia. In previous years, a single day was set aside. The expansion is to allow time to finish more permanent projects. In the past, the occasion had been used to mount one day projects, more symbolic than permanent.

Plans for next year's youth week include the presentation of annual awards to youth organisations which excel in self-help projects. Known as the President's Youth Award, the annual prizes are designed to encourage youth to develop themselves and their community. President Kaunda said the activities of Zambian youth during the week had lived up to this year's theme -- youth and production.